Recent Demographic Developments in France: A Decline in Fertility, an Increase in Mortality

Resume

On 1 January 2016, the population of France was 66.6 million (of which 64.5 million in metropolitan France), an increase of 3.7 per 1,000 over the previous year. Fertility decreased, from 1.98 children per woman in 2014 to 1.93 in 2015. This decrease was observed notably in young women. The number of residence permits issued – close to 200,000 in 2014 – increased slightly, and permit holders represent 0.3% of the population. More than half of permits were issued to women. The number of marriages (among both opposite-sex and same-sex couples) decreased slightly. Heterosexual unions were more often officially registered through a PACS civil partnership, and same-sex unions through marriage. The number of divorces decreased, as did the divorce rate; fewer minor children were affected by a divorce. There were more deaths in 2015 than in 2014, notably due to greater seasonal mortality. As a result of this mortality peak, life expectancy decreased significantly, by 0.3 years for men and 0.4 years for women.